Caudata.org: Newts and Salamanders Portal

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!

Is this an axolotl?

rydordie

New member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Hey guys, so I bought what I thought was an axolotl after a tragic fish genocide (accidental overdose of algaefix that killed all but my opaline gouramis and African dwarf frogs). Anyway, I brought this guy home about a bit over a month ago and he had nice looking gills and a ridge along his back/tail. Over the past couple weeks the gills have be reabsorbed, his eyes have begun bugging out, and the ridge along his back has disappeared. He was floating for a few days (gassy, but that's passed), and is still looking healthy and eating well.

I'm now wondering if this is actually an axolotl (I sure hope so, since I named him Axolotl Rose), but I'm also not sure of what I should do if he is going through metamorphosis, or if he is perhaps not an axolotl at all.

I've attached a before and after picture if you will (disregard the gravel, I got rid of that the first day I got him and replaced with fine-grain sand).
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0188.jpg
    IMG_0188.jpg
    104.7 KB · Views: 935
  • IMG_0236.jpg
    IMG_0236.jpg
    105.8 KB · Views: 2,207
  • IMG_0349.jpg
    IMG_0349.jpg
    280.6 KB · Views: 732

Bellabelloo

Julia
Staff member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
5,260
Reaction score
114
Location
Hatfield, England
It is not an axolotl, but a tiger salamander larvae :D

I would lower the water and offer a safe land area for it to climb onto . I think it looks like it should be terrestrial now.
 
Last edited:

HodgeaPodge

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Messages
136
Reaction score
2
Location
Michigan
Yes looks like you got it right before the morph. ^^'

You could get a turtle dock... but a half land/half water aquarium would be appreciated by him I think.
 

Azhael

Site Contributor
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
6,645
Reaction score
103
Location
Burgos
At this point it should be fully terrestrial. Even if there are some remnants of the gills, the other morphological characteristics are those of a fully metamorphosed animal. It could drown...so i would just move it to a terrestrial habitat with just a small water dish, it will be alright.
 

rydordie

New member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Thanks. I lowered the water, but he still seems to like being in water but taking some breaths from the air. He's a cute little bugger, but I will need to find a new name.
 

Jenste

New member
Joined
Jul 24, 2010
Messages
463
Reaction score
10
Well then hello from a fellow New Englander. I am from RI, pretty much none of the stores around here sell axolotls, just poorly labeled tigers so I had a similar thing happen to me and ended up having to rehome the little guy to a member on here. Good luck with the little guy!
 

rydordie

New member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Thanks, ad hello from Massachusetts. I just added some coco-fiber and a water dish, the little guy is having fun exploring and trying to climb up glass walls (unsuccessfully). He's still begging for food, but this time out of water and not underneath.
 

hacelepues

New member
Joined
Jun 13, 2011
Messages
522
Reaction score
8
Just so you know, next time you see an salamander in a store labeled "axolotl", look at their toes.

Axolotls have very thin pointy toes. Tiger salamanders, on the other hand, have big fat sausage toes, like the toes on your guy!
 

MandiceP

Member
Joined
May 21, 2012
Messages
64
Reaction score
2
Location
North Eastern CT
I'm from MA as well! I got my Axolotl at the store I work at south of Boston and I've known a few other stores around that sell them. So if you are looking for a local Axolotl I could point you in the right direction!
 

Karen40

New member
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Location
USA
I'm from MA as well! I got my Axolotl at the store I work at south of Boston and I've known a few other stores around that sell them. So if you are looking for a local Axolotl I could point you in the right direction!

Hi MandiceP,
I am from Weymouth which is south of Boston and I was wondering if you could tell me where is the store you work at or the other stores you spoke of so I may purchase an Axolotl for my son for Christmas.
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    There are no messages in the chat. Be the first one to say Hi!
    Top